Walter with his puppies
Walter at work
Walter with the repurposed card catalog holder in his office
Walter's card catalog filled with candy
Libraries, one of the oldest institutions in human civilization, have undergone a sea change in the twenty-first century, and the COVID-19 pandemic upended things further. Walter Butler—formerly a librarian at Pasadena City College (PCC)—had just taken on the new administrative role at SMC, now known as Director of Library & Information Services, because he wanted to “do more for students.” The timing couldn’t be more propitious.
Soon after he arrived, Walter, alongside his team, oversaw a large-scale renovation
of the SMC Library, thanks to a grant & state monies. The result? A reimagined space—the process even
involved SMC Design Technology - User Experience Design students—that meets students where they are: updated seating and space options (soundproof
study booths/workstations! single-user study pods!); fresh paint and carpeting; and
a layout that allows for collaboration or solitude, depending on students’ preferences
and needs. [Read more in: “Solo & Ensemble”, Feb. 18, 2026].
After a recent reorganization, Walter has also been tasked with oversight for SMC’s
various tutoring centers. He teams up with Library Department Chair Roxana Cruz—who works with the librarians on the instructional side of things, while Walter “coordinates
everything the library is doing operationally”. A peek inside Walter’s neat office
speaks volumes. Generally dressed in a shirt-and-tie, warm, and friendly, Walter might
resemble your quintessential librarian—but under that exterior lies a creative, thoughtful
individual who thinks outside the box, and is looking for ways to make things better.
An offhand, but relevant, illustration: a vintage card catalog in his office has been
repurposed—the drawers contain candy, sorted by kind (popular with the interns who
help sort through and organize the SMC archives).
SMC in Focus interviewed Walter about his career journey, changes in the world of libraries (and the SMC Library), work-life balance, and much more. Our conversation has been edited for brevity, clarity & flow.
SMC in Focus: We’d love to know more about your journey towards working in libraries.
Walter Butler: Very few have a straight path into the profession—and my path is probably similar. It wasn’t like I grew up thinking I wanted to work in a library. My family would always take me to libraries—I spent a lot of time there. But I never saw myself working in one. In high school, I was on the debate team; I think my parents really wanted me to study law. I had a strong interest in the natural sciences, and I wanted at one point to dive into marine biology. But I ended up going into theater as an undergrad—my major was theater, and my minor was in world religious studies at Temple University, in Philadelphia. And I was involved with Children’s Theater Group at that time, too. I remember my academic advisor encouraging me to pursue teaching and [me] trying to connect these threads together. . . I moved out to Los Angeles right after my undergrad. My mother encouraged me to get residency before graduate school.
I got my teaching credential out here. I was working with the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, helping with their archives and their student theater outreach program at high schools. Then I worked as a history teacher and a social sciences teacher for a charter high school as well, in South LA—they did not have a library. I was also tasked with inventory and managing all the textbooks, and it opened up my eyes to what an interesting challenge this is for schools. As I was looking at graduate programs, a Master’s in Library and Information Science [later earned from UCLA, with a specialty in archival studies, followed by a PhD in Information Systems from Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, via San Jose State University Gateway Program] made sense with what was a growing passion. That’s how I got pulled into this world. . .
Directly out of grad school, I’d landed a library director position with a vocational college, Everest College. I was part of that system as it started to get scrutinized. I got my library teaching credential while I was there so that I could refocus at the high school level . . . [eventually] became a high school librarian for Pasadena Unified School District, grades 6 through 12. And that’s how I [later] got involved with Pasadena City College. . .
SMC in Focus: The library has evolved and been reimagined, thanks to grant and state funds. What part of the process—in which you also got SMC User Experience Design students involved—was a highlight or special joy for you?
Walter Butler: It was such a whirlwind of activity—and towards the end of my first year here! It took a while to get the funds funneled to the College, and once we got them, we started to move as quickly as we could. We harvested the ideas from the UX Design students, all that energy—I still have some of the mockups, and look at them for inspiration. The collaboration from all the different entities on campus was really neat—SMC Facilities coming in, talking about what would work in this space, for example. And continuing to keep all those ideas alive and buzzing in the background, things to work towards—for example, outdoor seating. We’re also going to get more individual study booths at the end of Fall 2026, ready for winter intersession, which is really great because they’re highly used!
SMC in Focus: The programming that happens in the library—as publicized in ‘Library Ahoy!’ the newsletter—is quite robust. You’ve brought some prominent speakers, like Nobel Prize laureate & activist Malala Yousafzai. What is the ethos that drives you as you reimagine and expand what happens in the library?
Walter Butler: When I first started, I spent a lot of time absorbing and learning how this place works, what students and staff are experiencing. There’s always that opportunity to look at something, and [reimagine] it in a way that makes sense for that area and space. What drives me is a response to listening.
SMC in Focus: Were you always a good listener, even as a young person?
Walter Butler: I guess so. Growing up, that was the one thing people would say, oh, you listen. You hope you’re improving things, balanced with whatever the missions and needs are around you.
SMC in Focus: What changes have you seen in your world—the world of libraries—post-COVID?
Walter Butler: Well, I will say a lot of the design choices that I installed [in the SMC Library] were inspired by this post-COVID behavior. What I noticed here after COVID—and across other libraries too—is that when students came into the space, there was a little bit of uncertainty. They didn't want to necessarily be sitting next to another student they may not know. We noticed that. And we had tables that were no longer conducive to how students were approaching their studies or their space.
Now, we see another shift happening—students are gathering a little more at the tables, or they’re shifting the chairs around, signaling where they want [a more collaborative] space. It brought into my awareness that we all think a bit differently about safety and health.
SMC in Focus: How has the library adapted to the post-Covid world, and what are some of the highlights of the ways the library has shifted? Are you seeing a decrease in foot traffic?
Walter Butler: Actually, this semester, we’ve noticed a very sharp increase in foot traffic. We started to notice that uptick last year too, but this year compared to last year is amazing. What we’ve been trying to do is bring in our services and resources to accommodate online classes and on-ground classes but also [expand] access to resources by increasing our digital footprint. Here at SMC specifically, when I first started, the online resources weren’t as robust as they could have been. So that was the number one priority—we expanded our database collection.
We have a Chromebook loan program—shared between us and the SMC Bookstore previously, the library [eventually] became the hub—which we have rebranded with new labels so students don’t forget where it came from. That program has really expanded. Our study booths—the individual ones—are well used. We wanted to create something for our online students who needed that silent, separate space. . .
SMC in Focus: Give us an elevator pitch version of everything the SMC Library has to offer to students today—like breadth, and data!
Walter Butler: Well, we have over 80,000 volumes in the library. We have a growing textbook commons collection, where students can access the required books for their classes for free here in the library. We offer an online chat service, which is available 24/7. So, they’re always connected to an international network of librarians—not AI—that answers research questions and connects them to databases. (We are working on a chatbot to help filter through basic questions, like on hours of operation). The library is here to connect students to support and resources that will enable them to succeed in their classes, and that’s what we want to see—that they persist and graduate.
We also have a relatively new database focused on professional learning skills—working with SMC’s Professional Development Center (the EPICenter), we are trying to figure out how to integrate it. Library administrative assistant Fariba Owlya has been testing this resource, too, and it helped her with MS Excel, and other tasks. There are resources here at the SMC Library, not just for students, but for [colleagues], too.
SMC in Focus: What do you love most about your job, Walter?
Walter Butler: Discovering new things all the time.
SMC in Focus: What’s a busy, typical day like for you?
Walter Butler: I commute from the Valley—on a good day, it could take me about 45 minutes to get here. I listen to the radio while I drive. I get in, greet staff, check in downstairs at the desk and with the librarian who’s around on duty. Sometimes there are building checks—especially after it rains—and I do a quick walk-through. Then I get into my office, start the day, and the meetings begin . . . checking in with the tutoring centers, and so on.
SMC in Focus: Are you watching or reading anything right now?
Walter Butler: I was watching “Shards” on FX. And “Vampire Lestat”. Anne Rice was a big author for me growing up . . .
SMC in Focus: Your job sounds like a lot. How do you unwind?
Walter Butler: I have two dogs at home. They help me unwind!
SMC in Focus: Is there a particular mantra or something you’re able to fall back on when things get uncertain or difficult?
Walter Butler: I feel like I lean back on a lot of different things, and they’re just kind of carried [along] with me. (Points at bookshelves and bulletin board in his office, and things showcased there). You will see a lot of ideas and random things that take me back to various times in my life—they remind me why I am here, what I am trying to do, and striving for. For example, those comic books take me back to teaching in the library certificate program. The Willy Wonka figurine is from the research interns who come here from various universities—UCLA, San Jose State, CSU Long Beach, and more—to help organize the SMC archives. One of the interns gave me that, because of the candy in the old card catalog box!
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SMC in Focus Volume XII, Issue 5
Teaching from the Cloud
Koda Kol’s life journey from a Cambodian jungle to teaching cloud computing at SMC is a story of grit, reinvention and paying it forward. Read Article
English at Work
A free SMC noncredit ESL course helps adult learners build workplace communication skills while opening doors to education and new career possibilities. Read Article
Opening Minds
Stockholm native Anja Winter developed her passion for psychology at SMC, leading her to pursue a PhD and co-author a book on psychedelic science. Read Article
Listening, Discovering, Reimagining
Director of Library & Information Services Walter Butler did not have a ‘straight path’ into this career, but he’s found his niche, helping students succeed. Read Article
Bragging Rights
A Life Sciences prof. named elective member of the American Ornithological Society. A trustee publishes a novel. SMC Malibu flourishes. Read Article
On the Horizon: Cloud Computing
CSIS Dept. Chair Howard Stahl on the new baccalaureate degree in Cloud Computing, why it’s so relevant & what opportunities await students. Read Article